Does this count as a relapse?

[Munky]

Hi all, Munky's back with an important question...

A little backstory first, Friday night I damaged myself. I'll admit I had been doing a little drinking (I only drink socially) that night, and was feeling a bit tipsy. A friend and I were messing around while walking back from a "drunken adventure," as we call it. He took off running and I took off after him at full speed. The next thing I know I'm stumbling, and I remember saying "Oh, sh**!" The funny part is it wasn't like a scared "Oh, sh**," it was more calm like a "Yeah, this is going to hurt...buck it up..." kind of "Oh, sh**!" (if that was puncuated correctly I'll be impressed...)

So, I tried the duck and roll, which was pretty successful at keeping me from dragging my face across the pavement. But I guess I had a bit too much forward momentum, and I landed hard on my left shoulder, then rolled twice. Heh, my friends started laughing at me until they noticed me just sitting on the road clutching my shoulder. I didn't mind though. If I wasn't hurting so much, I probably would have been laughing as well. On the way back home, I was able to get my arm over my head once (probably due to the alcohol), so I didn't think I was that bad off. That is, until the next morning, when I couldn't move it without holding it with my other hand.

I decided it was time to go to the hospital. After half an hour in the waiting room, half an hour waiting for x-rays, 15 minutes of x-rays, then another half hour waiting for the doctor, I was finally told I had broken my collar bone. But instead of the more common middle break, mine broke where it connects to the shoulder socket. The bone had kinda popped up and pushed in a bit.

This brings me to my question. I was prescribed Vicodin 5/500 for pain and I have been taking them. Does this count as a relapse?


P.S Life with one arm sucks...

[windysan]

nope

[LadyTenn422]

I would say no for sure, you are in legitimate pain, BUT have someone dole them out for you, DONT count on yourself. ITs a cunning wicked baffling disease. You may say one more wont hurt. I did that, I LIKED it, and before you know it, I ALMOST slipped over the edge again. Please use caution

[LadyTenn422]

PS........sorry about your collarbone, I know that must hurt, my son hurt his like that once. I hope you feel better soon.........

[Freedom1990]

You're an addict but you are truly able to drink socially?

Wow, I've never met someone like that

[justanothrdrunk]

IMHO, it's a relapse (and not because of the vicodin).

[windysan]

Originally Posted by Freedom1990

You're an addict but you are truly able to drink socially?

Wow, I've never met someone like that

I'm one of those. (insert denial comments here)

[Munky]

I was never an alcoholic, I'm a recovering oxy addict.

[windysan]

Originally Posted by Munky

I was never an alcoholic, I'm a recovering oxy addict.

Same here. I drink socially and have never had problems with it. Now you'll find that most in recovery follow the 12 Steps and according to NA/AA a "drug is a drug is a drug" and booze is a drug. You'll catch some flak for telling folks you drink. If you are early in recovery just be careful. It wouldn't hurt your liver to give up drinking for awhile.

[Snickers008]

What you have described does not sound like social drinking by any commonly held definition.

[windysan]

Well social drinking does include getting hammered and falling down on occasion. If he got slammered drunk and broke his collar bone then didn't have a drink the next day or the next week then he ain't an akaholic. Now if he left the hospital and picked up a gallon of cheap vodka then maybe he is an akaholic. If booze interferes with work and family then I consider that to be akaholism. Now I drank and fell down and bonked my haid few times when I was a youngster and I wasn't an akaholic. I was just a knucklehead youngun who had too much to drink. I've not been falling down drunk in years. I had some beers the other day and just got full and bloated. Didn't catch a buzz or nothing. Now if this feller continues breaking bones on a regular basis then he may have a problem with the drink.

[ccgirl2]

OK, Windy, I usually agree with you on the drinking socially thing, because I can have one or two drinks a year. What concerns me is the crazy drinking antics. That doesn't sound social to me.

[windysan]

Originally Posted by ccgirl2

OK, Windy, I usually agree with you on the drinking socially thing, because I can have one or two drinks a year. What concerns me is the crazy drinking antics. That doesn't sound social to me.

Apparently you didn't grow up in the South. The phrase "watch this" was usually slurred and followed by something resulting in injury. LOL

[TTOSBT]

I was "just a drug addict" too.
Today I admit I am an alcoholic.
I know many people who drink socially.
I have never known one to break a collar bone doing it though.
I wish you the best.
Maybe you should stop drinking socially and see how it feels to be completely sober?
ESPECIALLY while you are on the pain meds.

[windysan]

I know plenty of folks who broke bones, got stomped in fights, wrecked cars, shot street signs, ran around naked, tipped cows, bedded ugly wimmens and they aren't akaholics. I ain't saying this feller is or is not an akaholic. I just ain't gonna jump point an accusatory finger at the guy. I'll let him decide if he's an akaholic or not. Big Book says go out and do some controlled drinking and if you can handle drinking a couple and stopping then you ain't an akaholic. Now I won't get into the chronic pain and medication debate as I ain't never been in much chronic pain. Now this feller certainly don't need to be mixing his meds with booze....that'll get him dead real quick. Like Bill W. said, "the paths to recovery are many".

[Freedom1990]

Originally Posted by windysan

I had some beers the other day and just got full and bloated. Didn't catch a buzz or nothing.

Wow, that doesn't sound like much fun at all.

Personally, I drank for the effect, and full and bloated wasn't either of those effects

Just curious what your definition of an alcoholic, is, Windy

I am an addict/alcoholic and I didn't drink every day, nor did I break any bones during my drinking career.

[windysan]

Originally Posted by Freedom1990

Wow, that doesn't sound like much fun at all.

Personally, I drank for the effect, and full and bloated wasn't either of those effects

Just curious what your definition of an alcoholic, is, Windy

I am an addict/alcoholic and I didn't drink every day, nor did I break any bones during my drinking career.

Now I ain't the smartest Southerner on the planet but I knew when I was a dope addict. I think that if any substance interferes with work and family then maybe that person might have a problem with it. I know many who drink quite often, get drunk quite often, and they ain't akaholics. Ever been to an LSU football game? A Saints game? A lot of those folks get up and go to work the next day. I try not to judge others. The guy's question wasn't about booze. It was about his script. Any 12 stepper will tell ya that pain meds prescribed by real doctors for real pain ain't a relapse. Of course I'd take half the bottle at once. But that's just me. That's why I don't do dope no more.

[Freedom1990]

Thanks for answering my question, Windy. I wasn't trying to pick on you. I appreciate the response.

[windysan]

Originally Posted by Freedom1990

Thanks for answering my question, Windy. I wasn't trying to pick on you. I appreciate the response.

I know you weren't trying to pick on me. You're from Kansas....the friendly state. Dorothy was from Kansas.

I bet if I hung out with this guy for about a month I could tell if he was an akaholic.

[Freedom1990]

Originally Posted by windysan

I know you weren't trying to pick on me. You're from Kansas....the friendly state. Dorothy was from Kansas.

I bet if I hung out with this guy for about a month I could tell if he was an akaholic.

We are a pretty friendly lot in Kansas as a general rule!

[windysan]

Originally Posted by Freedom1990

We are a pretty friendly lot in Kansas as a general rule!

My friend from Manhattan, Kansas wrote a book called The Complete Guide to Museums of Kansas. Jay Workman is his name. Ain't seen him in ages.

[TTOSBT]

Defining an alcoholic is so difficult though, isn't it?
I myself was a HIGHLY functional alcoholic.
No joke, I worked a full time job, go to school to a very demanding online university, am a homeowner, wife, mother, co-leader of the girl scout troop, team parent of the soccer team, and I never missed work or anything. My house was clean, bills paid, dinners made, etc and there is NO doubt in my mind that I am alcoholic.
Some things you just know.
My life is different today now that the glasses of wine at the end of the day are no longer a part of my day
I still do all the same things except I have taken a break from school, am now in therapy and attend AA several times a week.
I know it is semantics but I do not really understand the difference between a drunk and an alcoholic?

[windysan]

Originally Posted by TTOSBT

Defining an alcoholic is so difficult though, isn't it?
I myself was a HIGHLY functional alcoholic.
No joke, I worked a full time job, go to school to a very demanding online university, am a homeowner, wife, mother, co-leader of the girl scout troop, team parent of the soccer team, and I never missed work or anything. My house was clean, bills paid, dinners made, etc and there is NO doubt in my mind that I am alcoholic.
Some things you just know.
My life is different today now that the glasses of wine at the end of the day are no longer a part of my day
I still do all the same things except I have taken a break from school, am now in therapy and attend AA several times a week.
I know it is semantics but I do not really understand the difference between a drunk and an alcoholic?

I think that must be defined by each person. I'll not judge a man or woman. They must decide for themselves. I know I ain't a drunk and I definitely ain't an akaholic. Now I've been known to get drunk but I can go weeks and months without booze. I just don't care for it that much. I must not have the "allergy". LOL. Many are quick to point the finger and yell DENIAL DENIAL but I ain't throwin no stones at anybody. I know that booze never made me an animal like the dope did me. Like Bill W. said, "the roads to recovery are many".

[LadyTenn422]

LMAO, fellow southerner here Windy, and I know all too well the WATCH THIS. I am/was a HUGE tomboy. So I was always with the fellas, just one of the guys trying stupid things they havent even done on JackA**!!! It was nuts. yea, watch this usually follows with injury and or hospitalization. LOL You are so awesome Windy, I KNEW there was something about you I liked SOUTHERNER!!! MAC AND CHEESE, and BISCUITS adn GRAVY!! Sweet Tea, which people in the North look at you like, heres your tea and some sugar packets, ewww. I can make killer sweet tea, by the gallons, my boys suck it down, we southerners have our ways dont we. LOVE YA, WINDY, my new hero!!